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SUNY Potsdam Business Administration Students Win Campus Entrepreneurial Competition

Strategic and Global Management Students at SUNY Potsdam Take Home Prize in College Competition

Potsdam, NY (06/05/2024) — SUNY Potsdam's Department of Business Administration recently hosted its 60th Business Plan Competition, which challenges students to develop an entrepreneurial business plan fulfilling the need of a specific group of consumers.

Three teams in the capstone Strategic and Global Management class spent the spring semester developing a business plan and original product pitch, starting from scratch. The competition was introduced in 1993 by Professor Dr. Edwin J. Portugal to give business administration students the opportunity to work intensively and collaboratively in teams to create a real-life business plan. The teams present their final strategic business plans in front of external judges, who take the role of venture capitalists.

This semester's winning team included:

  • Nasierra Daniel '24 of Brooklyn, NY
  • Dan Schaeber '24 of Liverpool, NY
  • Mamadou Kante '24 of New York, NY
  • Yeremi Gomez '24 of Bronx, NY
  • Destiny Snyder '24 of Potsdam, NY

The team won for their business idea for a shower head with built-in dispensers for shampoo, conditioner and body wash, including motion sensors. They built a test model of their product, which they dubbed "Cleanflow," using 3D printing technology at the Lougheed Learning Commons.

Kante reflected: "Our path to develop a new shower product started with a simple realization: for people with limited mobility, the daily shower routine, which many consider to be a commonplace task, presented major obstacles. Our team set out to create a solution that would improve shower accessibility and comfort for individuals with varying abilities after coming to this insight. The process of creating the prototype was a labor of love, driven by our collective passion for improving the lives of others. We first undertook a thorough investigation to become more aware of our target market's particular requirements and preferences. To make our vision a reality, we worked with engineers and designers, held brainstorming sessions, and created conceptual drawings. To find the ideal mix of usefulness and usability, we tried a variety of materials, forms, and features while refining our design. As the competition approached, we shifted our focus to preparing for the pitch presentation and showcasing our prototype to the judges. We knew that effective communication would be key to winning over the judges and securing victory in the competition. We spent countless hours refining our pitch deck, crafting a compelling narrative, and rehearsing our presentation until it was polished to perfection. On the day of the competition, we delivered our presentation confidently and with conviction. It was a bizarre and thrilling experience when the crucial moment finally came, and our team was declared the competition winner. Knowing that our efforts and commitment had paid off in the most significant way imaginable filled us with immense happiness and pride."

Students were randomly assigned to teams at the start of the semester, with members bringing different sets of skills to the table. In creating the business plans, students learn to set goals, come up with a realistic schedule, develop a team contract of expectations, own up to their responsibilities and be accountable to the team.

"The Strategic Business Plan Competition is a culmination of many years of hard work that have defined our students' experiences at SUNY Potsdam. Our students' rigorous academic preparation is displayed through their teamwork in bringing a project of this scale to fruition, their creativity in formulating a new and novel idea, and their confidence in presenting to their peers, professors and outside practitioners," said Dr. Allen Grant, dean of SUNY Potsdam's School of Education and Professional Studies. "There is no doubt that each of our competing students will carry these applied experiences with them to the workplace and graduate school."

The teams' strategic business plans integrate the business students' understanding of the business functional areas of accounting, finance, management, marketing, information systems, legal environment, human resource management, and operations management. The Business Model Canvas is used as the theoretical framework.

"Students experience the stimulation of working in teams, the exhilaration of innovative thinking, the excitement of public speaking, and the challenges of coordinating team members' unique talents," Dr. Portugal said.

External judges were invited to review the business plan portfolios, product prototypes, PowerPoints and scripts, and evaluated the team presentations. The panel included three faculty members, including Assistant Professor of Business Administration Michael Decker, Professor and Chair Dr. Shalu Wunnava, and School of Education and Professional Studies Dean Dr. Allen Grant. The student panelist was Jordan Fisher '24, a senior business administration major and previous winner of the competition, who also owns CSW Trading, a company focused on education for trading futures and options. The final judge was Susan Portugal (Hon. '23), who recently retired as a senior research scientist for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. The teams were all mentored by Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Alan Hersker.

SUNY Potsdam's Department of Business Administration prepares students for fulfilling and successful careers, with flexible undergraduate and graduate programs offered both online and in person in Potsdam and in Watertown. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/SOEPS/BusinessAdmin.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

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Media Attachments

From left, Michael Decker looks on as Mamadou Kante and Destiny Snyder show their Cleanflow product to panelist Susan Portugal during the 60th Strategic Business Plan Competition at SUNY Potsdam.

From left, the winning team in the SUNY Potsdam Strategic Business Plan Competition posed with Professor Dr. Ed Portugal, including Yeremi Gomez, Dan Schaeber, Portugal, Mamadou Kante, Destiny Snyder and Nasierra Daniels.

Mamadou Kante (left) and Destiny Snyder (center) show their Cleanflow product to Susan Portugal (right) during the 60th Strategic Business Plan Competition.

Nasierra Daniels holds the winning trophy during the Strategic Business Plan Competition where her team took home the top prize. Also pictured are judge Michael Decker, center, and Dr. Ed Portugal, professor of business administration.

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